BY-Â Kartikey Tripathi (Haridwar, Uttarakhand)
TERMINATION OF ASSISTANT COACH ABHISHEK NAYAR Due To Involvement in Dressing Room Leaks During BGT 2024Â
In a development that has sent shockwaves across the Indian cricketing circles, the BCCI has officially terminated Assistant Coach Abhishek Nayar, marking a dramatic fall from grace just months after being handpicked for the role by none other than Head Coach Gautam Gambhir himself.
Let’s rewind a bit. Just 8 months ago, ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, BCCI began its search for a new Head Coach with Rahul Dravid’s term ending after a steady 3-year run. The speculation mill ran wild—big names, international stars, and some high-profile Indian coaches were considered. But in the end, it was Mr. Gautam Gambhir, the then KKR mentor and former World Cup winner, who got the nod.
India went on to script a fairy tale World Cup win, narrowly defeating South Africa in a thriller on June 29, 2024, and just a few days later, Gambhir was officially announced as India's all-format head coach. The nation celebrated, but behind the scenes, eyes turned to his choice of support staff. And that's where things got fuzzy.
Abhishek Nayar With Gautam Gambhir
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There was no official BCCI press release revealing the support staff appointments—a move many found odd. It was only during the Zimbabwe tour in July 2024 that the media and fans realized Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate had taken up assistant coaching roles. Gautam Gambhir, it seemed, had managed to bring in his trusted aides, especially Nayar—sparking whispers of “KKR bias”. But with the World Cup win still fresh, those murmurs faded quickly.
THE BGT 2024 BOMBSHELL – WHEN LEAKS EXPOSED THE TEAM
Fast forward to December 2024—the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. India’s performance was underwhelming, exposing many cracks. But what caused a bigger stir was not what happened on the field, but off it.
There were several high-profile leaks during the tour. From reports of Rohit Sharma “opting out” of the fifth Test to intense speculation around a “Mr. Fixit”—suspected by fans to be Virat Kohli—who allegedly aspired to reclaim Test captaincy, the media was flooded with inside information. Too much information.
It didn’t take long before fingers were pointed at Abhishek Nayar, who was repeatedly spotted visiting the media centre, chatting casually with his journalist friends from Mumbai. This was a blatant violation of BCCI and ICC protocol, which bars team members from interacting with outsiders—especially during a match.
Tour Manager Jaydev Shah, also the President of the Saurashtra Cricket Association, raised serious concerns in his post-tour report. These documents are internal audits of how a team conducted itself through a series, and Shah’s report didn’t mince words. He flagged Nayar’s repeated interactions with media personnel, suggesting he may have been the primary source of sensitive team leaks.
What’s worse, during India’s shocking home whitewash against New Zealand post-BGT, Nayar’s lack of involvement in practice sessions and overall disconnect with the squad added further fuel. Sources suggest that many senior players began feeling paranoid—unsure whether their private conversations would stay within the dressing room or get splashed across the front pages the next morning.
The final nail in the coffin?
The BCCI’s top brass reportedly concluded: “We can’t afford someone who leaks dressing room conversations. It creates distrust, confusion, and fractures the unity of the team.”
Once Gambhir’s trusted lieutenant, Abhishek Nayar is now out. And this sudden dismissal raises uncomfortable questions not just about his conduct, but also the process that led to his appointment in the first place. Will Gambhir now be more closely scrutinized for his future picks?
Only time will tell.
FIELDING COACH T. DILIP & PHYSICAL TRAINER SOHAM DESAI RELIEVED OF DUTIES
In a less dramatic, but equally significant shake-up, fielding coach T. Dilip and S&C coach Soham Desai have also been relieved of their duties. Unlike the Nayar fiasco, this was a pre-planned conclusion to their three-year association with Team India.
Dilip, who came in from the NCA during the Dravid era, had grown into a beloved figure among the squad. His quirky post-match “Fielding Medal” presentations added charm to India’s dressing room. However, with Ten Doeschate now present, the BCCI decided to streamline roles and not carry too many cooks in the coaching kitchen. Dilip’s extension, which was already temporary post-T20 World Cup 2024, wasn’t renewed beyond March 2025.
Fielding Coach T.DilipÂ
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On the fitness front, Soham Desai’s chapter has also ended, and interestingly, Adrian Le Roux is all set for a second innings with the Indian team. Old-school fans might remember him from John Wright’s tenure in the early 2000s. After a productive 16-month spell then, he had left for South Africa but stayed connected with Indian cricket through stints in the IPL, most notably with KKR and Punjab Kings.
Soham Desai's 3-year Stint Gets OverÂ
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This time around, BCCI is moving toward a leaner and more efficient support structure. The approach is clear: “Fewer hands, but high-impact roles.” There are murmurs of a batting consultant being added for the England tour, but unlike before, the new regime isn’t interested in overstuffing the staff room.
CONCLUSION: A NEW ERA WITH STRICT BOUNDARIES
With these sweeping changes, BCCI has made a bold statement: No tolerance for leaks, politics, or inefficiency. What happened during the BGT is now a cautionary tale—a reminder that even the closest confidantes can fall from grace if they breach the code.
As India eyes the England tour in July, the focus is now firmly on performance, unity, and discipline. Whether this reset brings clarity or chaos, we’ll have to wait and watch.
But one thing is certain—the inner sanctum of Team India just got a whole lot tighter.
New BCCI , New RulesÂ
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